Coupling pin



Dec. M), 1946. c g- N 2,224,522

COUPLING PIN Filed Nov. 7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l In venior HENRY C. PE TE eso/v,

Dec. 10, 1940. r Q PETERSON 2,224,522

COUPLING PIN Filed Nov. 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor HENRY C. PETERSON,

A iiorneys Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES COUPLING PIN Henry 0. Peterson, Philomath, Oreg. Application November 7, 1939, Serial N6. 303,304

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in coupling pins for use in trailer hitches, car couplings, hitches between farm implements and in other similar capacities.

Theprincipal object in view is to provide a simply constructed, low cost device of this character adapted to' automatically lock against removal and which may be quickly applied and detached when desired with safety.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, set forth in detail in the succeeding description, and defined in the claim appended hereto.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation,

Figure 3 is a view in top plan,

Figure 4 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the line 4,-4 of .Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation drawn to an enlarged scale of the leading end of the shackle member and locking dog thereon, and

Figure 6 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 86 of Figure 5 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. s

Describing my invention in detail with reference to the drawings by numerals, the basic element thereof is a preferably cylindrical shank I having a pointed leading end 2 and a head at the other end thereof comprising aadisk-like flange 3 surmounted by a pair of laterally spaced centrally apertured ears 4 extending from said flange upon opposite sides of the axis of the shank respectively. Adjacent the pointed end 2 thereof said shank l is provided with a diametri cal aperture 5 therein elongated lengthwise of said shank.

The head of the shank I has mounted therein for swinging movement in a plane coincident with the axis of the shank, a bail-shaped shackle 6 including a pair of substantially parallel long and short arms I, 8, respectively, and a connecting arm 9. The mounting for the shackle 6 includes the ears l, a terminal flat eye ID on the short arm fitting between said ears, and a stud ll passing through said eye and ears and suitably secured in the latter.

The shackle 8 is arranged to be swung away position to extend the free end of the long arm I through the aperture 5 and thereby block withdrawal of the shank from the hitch.

A corner stop lug I2 is provided on the eye [0 of the short arm 8 for coaction with the flange 3 to limit opening movement of the shackle 6, said lug and flange abutting when the short arm 8 is substantially coaxial with the shank l whereby the shackle is permitted to be swimg to a wide open position but prevented from swinging past such position and thereby becoming awkward to handle. A similar stop lug I3 is provided on the short arm 8 diagonally opposite the lug l2 and to similarly coact with said flange 3 and limit closing movement of said shackle 6 to a position in which the arms I, 8, are at substantial right angles to the shank I.

The inner edge of the short arm 8 is inclined inwardly of said arm so that in the closed position 'of the shackle 6, said arm will not interfere with the hitch or coupling.

The aperture 5 is of the proper length to permit the free end of the long arm 'I to swing wise of the arm I and thereby obstruct withdrawal of the free end of short arm 8 from the aperture 5 whereby the. shackle 6 is locked in closed position. The free end of the long arm 1 is reduced in thickness, in part, as at H, and said dogl5 set into the reduced part so as to be swung into a position parallel with said arm and out of obstructing position whereby the shackle 6 is unlocked as will be clear. A lateral abutment lug I8 is provided on the reduced part l'I for engagement by the dog I! to limit movement of the latter to said parallel position. The reduced part l1, dog It and lug l8 are constructed and arranged so that in the parallel,

unobstructing position of the dog l5 these elements form a uniformly sized free end on the arm 1 of pointed form. A coil sp in Sleeved onto the pivot l6 and housed in a recess 28 in the arm 1 with its ends suitably connected to the reduced part II and dog l5, respectively, urges the latter into crosswise obstructing position. In this position of said dog l5 one edge .55

As will now be seen, in order to swing theshackle B to closing position it is merely necessary to swing the locking dog l5 into the deas will be obvious, the dog I5 is free for opera-.

tion by the spring I9 into obstructing position. In order to swing the shackle 6 to open position it is merely necessary to again swing the dog l5 to parallel unobstructing position, pull the shackle in the proper direction until said dog enters the aperture 5 and then continue the a pull whereupon said dog will be dragged through said aperture endwise and out of the same.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suflice to imart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.-

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claim.

What I claim is:

A coupling pin comprising a cylindrical shank 5 having a bifurcated head end, and a tail end provided with a diametrical slot therein, a substantially U-shaped shackle having one end interposed between the furcations of said head end and pivoted thereto for swinging movement of the shackle toward and from said shank to advance the other end of said shackle through said slot and toretract said end, respectively, said other end of the shackle being rabbeted at one side thereof, a locking dog pivoted intermediate its ends in said rabbet for swinging movement into a position crosswise of said end to obstruct retraction of said end, said dog being swingable into said rabbet to extend lengthwise of said other end into unobstructingposition, and a stop lug in said rabbet establishing both the obstructing and unobstructing positions of said dog, the shackle being recessed around said dog pivot, and a coiled spring in said recess surrounding the dog pivot and urging said dog into obstructing position.

HENRY C. PETERSON. 

